Motivation (topic): The Superman in All of Us

When I was four years old, my parents brought me to the movie Superman. I remember clearly being totally engrossed in the film and finding a connection with the Man of Steel. He was able to do anything he wanted-he could fly,  he had x ray vision, and he was impervious to wounds. As you can imagine, as a four year old, I lost myself in countless hours of day dreaming after seeing this film.

Rule 1: Find something that will spark and interest in you...and never let it go when the fire is started.

I flew around my home in my superman underroos and cape and made "swooshing sounds" as I passed my parents and sister. The film had such an impact on me that I actually demanded my next 3 birthday parties to be "Super friends" theme only. As you can imagine, I was the Man of Steel.

As a young child, I didn't see a separation between super powers and goals. I wanted to be "great and excellent". I wanted to save people and stop bad guys. It was engrained within me and I always thought about it.

Rule 2: Excellence is what you say and what you do.

Motivation comes from many places, but mine started as a spark that jumped off the silver screen into my little blonde head. This spark was nurtured by the support of my parents of course. My mother constantly encouraging me to become an "actor" or tackling projects that others may have seen as "too much as a fantasy." I just never ran into a situation where I thought "that is crazy." I looked at situations as "how can I tackle them?"

I remember as child pulling all the encyclopedia Britannica off the shelves and reading them. I can still clearly see the dark brown leather bound covers with red and gold letters and numbers adorning the spines. I still remember the date of the edition: 1967. I loved learning about science, dinosaurs, space, and history. This was my internet of the day.

Rule 3: Learn as much as possible. Take that knowledge and teach others. Make a difference. (my motto I came up with when I was 10)

When I was nine, I was on vacation in Las Vegas with my family when I saw Chuck Norris. Pulling on my Dad's pant leg, I pointed at the action star. I remember walking over to him with my Dad. Chuck said "Do you do martial arts?" I shook my head "no" although I had seen every karate, kung fu, and ninja film that had come out. Chuck said to me "When you start, don't ever stop." The next year, I took my first martial arts class. That was 30 years ago and I am still going.

Rule 4: There is no end date or finish line in motivation. Its a building and expanding thing.

My daydreaming never, ever stopped. I remember in the 4th, 5th and 6th grades talking about cool subjects in the "challenge classes". I would write stories and pictures of futuristic vehicles and devices. I'd spend my lunch hours playing Dungeons and Dragons with my core friends (something I did for 20 years). I remember discovering how important loyalty was at this age. I also remember standing up for my friends like a rabid wolverine when I would see bullying on the play ground.  I hated it.

Rule 5: Imagination MUST be constantly used. Its what replenishes the mind. 

I didn't like to follow trends or popular groups in school. I wasn't a loner but someone who liked to surround himself with other like minded and smart people. I liked different things. I remember drifting towards the "noir" during my teenage years. Dark films, vampires and industrial music. I would spend hours listening to music and write. 

Rule 6: Take moments and be alone to refine the mind. Take moments to be with people and laugh.

My passion for music led me to radio. I started hosting my first radio show at 19. It was called Laced In Darkness and once a week, we'd broadcast from 3am to 6 am at the local university. I was involved with radio for almost 7 years and it lead me to interview bands and groups which I would have never been able to do otherwise.  At 21, got to interview one of the founding members of the pioneering industrial group, Skinny Puppy, cEvin Key. 

My radio partner and I had a hook up through our radio station with the label Nettwork. I remember having one of the employees asking me "Hey, want to meet cEvin?" I jumped at the chance. It was a cold fall evening as we took an elevator up to the 18th floor of a high rise in downtown Vancouver. As the doors opened, we walked into a large room. The windows overlooked the city. The only light in the room was coming from the sound boards that were situated around the room. I could hear dark wave music coming from one of the monitors. From the darkness, a 6 foot 5 figure emerged. This was cEvin Key. I was able to talk and chat for about 2 hours with him. It was a surreal moment for young kid who loved music so much. cEvin was articulate, soft spoken yet had mystery about him. 

Rule 6: Find mentors and don't be afraid to reach out to them. Ask advice. Be ready to say "I don't know and I need help"

When I asked him how he got to where he was, he told me "I kept going and didn't let anyone tell me what was right. What the hell is right? Who has the right telling you that what you are doing is odd or has no chance on succeeding? Keep at it."

I realized that I wasn't lucky-I simply kept following the path which was set out for me at 4 years old. It simply is what I did. Follow your dreams. Do what makes you happy. Surround yourself with like minded individuals. This allowed me to tackle what I wanted.

When I entered university, I wasn't the best student on "paper" but I knew that I liked knowledge so much, it led me to philosophy. My university years were pretty awesome because I got to tackle my love of reading and thinking outside the box. In fact, I recall learning about lucid dreaming and how to do exercises to control your dreams.  It was at 19 that  I was first able to have a flying dream (a la superman) and control where and what I did. A pretty cool experience.  Of course, what does a philosophy degree get you? 

Rule 7: If you are under-estimated, that's ok. Hard work will pay off.

It gets you 18 years as a bouncer. (grin).

My time on the ropes was such a defining moment in my life. It forged some of my closest friendships and best times. It allowed me opportunities that I can't ignore. I loved my team and helping people. It even lead me to write a book on it. I often laughed when people said "your just a bouncer". They had no idea I also wrote, ran a successful martial arts academy, spent time in radio, was a private investigator, worked in film....never judge a book by its cover.

Rule 8: Pause. Reflect. Honor the past. Live the present. Look toward the future as something positive. Yes, be POSITIVE. Negativity of thought. People. Situations. These are the biggest drain on your pool of motivation.

I found that that motivation is built on moments between moments. When I was working the ropes, I was formulating ideas for other business or goals. It was while working as a bouncer that I decided to start a you tube site that grew into one of the most viewed on the planet. I've been able to help many people and that that keeps me going.

Rule 9: Never a wasted moment and never boredom. 

I tackled another dream at 39 to enter law enforcement and did. It was a dream I had for over 20 years. You are never too old to tackle that to do list. The time is now. Don't keep waiting for something better. Make BETTER. Timing is everything in life and the ability to know thyself is key. And trust me, I've got a lot more to do before I am gone.

There is a superman in all of us....you just have to be willing to fly.